Fakhar Zaman handed two-match ban for ball tampering

He will miss Qalandars' matches against Multan Sultans on April 3 and Islamabad United on April 9.

Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi

Published: Mar 31, 2026, 11:12 AM (2 hrs ago)

Fakhar Zaman has been handed the maximum penalty - a two-match ban - after being found guilty of altering the condition of the ball during Lahore Qalandars' four-wicket defeat to Karachi Kings on Sunday night.

The sanction was announced after a hearing in which match referee Roshan Mahanama concluded Fakhar had tampered the ball and breached article 41.3 of the PSL code of conduct. The hearing had to take place because Fakhar had contested the ball-tampering charge.

A player is suspended for a minimum of one match or a maximum of two for a first time level-III offence under the PSL code of conduct for players and player support personnel.

The incident surfaced at the start of the last over of the Kings' run chase when on-field umpire Faisal Afridi sought the ball from Haris Rauf after it had exchanged hands between Shaheen Afridi and Fakhar. Faisal indulged in a lengthy discussion with Sharfuddoula, the other on-field umpire, and the two decided to bring in a replacement ball, deeming it to have been tampered with.

A PCB statement said: "Match Referee Roshan Mahanama conducted the disciplinary hearing and made the determination after reviewing all evidence and providing an opportunity of personal hearing to Fakhar. Lahore Qalandars Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, Team Director Sameen Rana and Team Manager Farooq Anwar were also present during the hearing."

The PSL code of conduct allows Fakhar to lodge an appeal against the decision with the PSL technical committee within 48 hours of receiving the written verdict from the match referee.

Fakhar will be unavailable for the Qalandars' matches against Multan Sultans on April 3 and Islamabad United on April 9.

Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi is a cricket journalist based in Lahore

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